‘Still hurting from WTC final loss’: Fans react as Australia’s Travis Head cooks South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma after Test win in Durban originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
-
Travis Head posted a mocking Instagram story aimed at South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma after Australia’s win in Durban.
-
Australia won the first Test by 214 runs, ending Bavuma’s unbeaten run as captain.
-
Fans on social media were split, with some enjoying the joke and others calling it petty.
Advertisement
Travis Head sparks internet meltdown after trolling Temba Bavuma following Durban victory
Travis Head may still be smarting from the World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa, if his latest Instagram story is anything to go by.
The Australian opener used social media to poke fun at South Africa captain Temba Bavuma shortly after the Proteas suffered their first defeat under his leadership, and the story quickly spread among cricket fans.
The clip is a vertical video of roughly five seconds. It opens with Bavuma dressed in South Africa’s Test whites, with the Proteas crest on his chest, leaning over a metal railing and laughing openly while looking off to the side.
Advertisement
A scoreboard graphic sits across the lower part of the screen throughout. It lists Australia on 390 and 314/6 declared, South Africa on 284 and 206, and the line “AUS won by 214 runs”. Below that, it appears to show a bowling card for Josh Hazlewood, reading 16.5 overs, four maidens, 49 runs, six wickets and an economy rate of 2.91.
Bavuma’s grin eases into a smaller smile, and he then opens his eyes wide with a startled look, as if he has just noticed something.
In the final moments, the video cuts to a dim arena lit in blue, with a crowd packed around a dancing Hazlewood under a spotlight.
MORE: Bad Light in SA: Detailing South Africa’s reluctance to host pink-ball Test at home
Temba Bavuma South Africa WTC Final The Lord’s 06112025
(getty)
Advertisement
Fan reactions to Travis Head trolling Temba Bavuma on social media
Cricket followers were quick to weigh in, and the responses ranged from amusement to irritation.
One account, CricketCentrl, praised the post in a single line. He said: “Travis Head Cooked Temba Bavuma 🥶”.
Paceattack19 linked the joke to the memory of the World Test Championship final, which South Africa won. He wrote: “Travis Head is definitely still hurting from that WTC Final loss. Taking it out on Bavuma now 😊”.
CRICBALLY was less impressed, and also made a point of using the nickname some South African fans have given their captain. He wrote: “😭TRAVIS HEAD WHAT IS THIS BEHAVIOUR 😭 Head mocked Lord Bavuma on his insta story through sharing a reel. This man is so unserious 😭”.
KingInThe3North went further and predicted that the Proteas would respond. He said: “Characterless Travis Head has no idea what’s gonna hit them back…. redemption arc of lord Temba Bavuma gonna be iconic 💪🏻💪🏻”.
Rajiv1841, in a lighter tone, framed the moment as a first of its kind. He said: “Travis Head is officially the 1st player in history to own great Temba Bavuma.😭😭”.
MORE: Keshav Maharaj’s scrappy catch to dismiss Renshaw: Why was it given out?
Advertisement
Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten run as Test captain ends after defeat to Australia in Durban
Bavuma’s winning streak ran back to his appointment in February 2023 and included a World Test Championship final success and a series win in India. It came to a halt on an unlucky number 13, and it is fair to say he did not enjoy learning how the other side of captaincy feels. He admitted as much when he spoke after the match.
“It is disappointing. It’s not the way you want to start a series, any kind of series, let alone just against a top outfit like Australia,” Bavuma said.
He then added that the players needed time to cool down before analysing the game, although he accepted that there was work to do.
Advertisement
“The emotions are obviously still a little bit high,” he added. “You probably want that to settle before you get into the conversations but there are obvious things that we could definitely improve on. No one is happy in that change-room, looking at the result that has played out.”
Head’s joke is harmless, but South Africa have the last word to come
There is nothing unusual about an Australian cricketer needling an opponent, and Head’s story sits comfortably within a long tradition of banter between these two sides. Most of the reaction suggests that supporters see it as light-hearted, even if a few found the timing tasteless. A player who has just helped win a Test by 214 runs is entitled to enjoy himself, and a reel that carries no abuse is hardly a scandal.
Advertisement
It is also worth remembering why the post hits the nail on the head. Bavuma’s record as captain has been exceptional, and the World Test Championship final win remains fresh for South Africans, which is why Australian fans and players alike enjoy any chance to flip the script. Head was part of that final loss, so the sting of it is probably still real.
The more important question is how South Africa respond. Bavuma was candid about the result, and he sounded like a leader who wants to fix things rather than make excuses. A heavy defeat in the opening Test will not define a series, and this group has shown before that it can recover under pressure. Their batting collapsed to 206 chasing 421, which suggests the problems lie in application rather than ability.
If the Proteas bounce back in the second Test, the joke will quickly look premature, and Head may find the same clip circulating in the opposite direction. That is the beauty of social media rivalry, since the last laugh usually belongs to whoever wins the next game.
Advertisement
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.
